The owner of Sneaky Dee’s said he’s supportive of the plan to demolish the west-end bar and music venue — and confirms he’ll have the option to reopen in the same spot once construction ends.
“Based on our discussions and experience with ownership, we are comfortable that our interests and the future of Sneaky Dee’s are being treated seriously and respectfully as part of this process,” George Diamantouros wrote in a letter to the Toronto and East York Community Council this week.
“The landlord understands and appreciates the importance of our tenancy and have always supported it and continue to support it.”
Community council met Thursday to discuss a revised application to build a multi-use highrise complex where Sneaky Dee’s has stood for the past 36 years. Dozens of fans of the bar showed up to plead with councillors to save it — something the officials said they were powerless to do under provincial planning law.
Small businesses in lowrise buildings are part of what makes the area “magical,” Fred Yurichuk, who said he lived in the College and Bathurst neighbourhood for about 20 years, told committee.
“We’ve got to pay attention to those special spots,” he said. “Sneaky Dee’s is the heart of the culture of Toronto. It’s special. You have live music, amateur wresting, crazy things. When you take those away, you just can’t get them back.”
The developer of the proposed 15-storey building told the Star earlier this week they plan to build a 3,173-square-foot bar and music venue on the ground floor and have an agreement with Diamantouros to let him rebuild Sneaky Dee’s there. The bar owner verified that in his letter.
“In addition, ownership has communicated to us their intention to work collaboratively with us throughout the redevelopment process, including assisting us in identifying a suitable nearby interim location during construction should relocation become necessary,” he wrote. “We have also been offered and reached agreement that we have the opportunity to return to the site once redevelopment is completed.”
Some Sneaky Dee’s supporters at committee expressed skepticism about this deal. The Silver Dollar room, another celebrated music venue a few blocks east at Spadina Avenue and College Street, was supposed to return too after it was demolished in 2018, they pointed out.
Developer Fitzrovia, which tore down the club to build a 15-storey residential complex, left its famous silver dollar sign hanging up on the exterior as a sort of vestigial reminder or promissory note for years. Fitzrovia did finally reopen the venue last year, but renamed it “Dina’s Tavern,” and took the Silver Dollar sign down this year due to a trademark dispute.
“I’m very familiar with the iconic Silver Dollar Room being preserved by its sign, which of course lost all meaning after the Room was demolished,” said Mackenzie Kundakcioglu, who spoke passionately at committee about how Sneaky Dee’s is the lifeblood of the local “emo” community. “As far as I can tell, there’s nothing in the documents, aside from perceived goodwill, to prevent Sneaky Dee’s from becoming just another Silver Dollar Room.”
Community council deferred a ruling until its next session in July due to time constraints.
